Multiple copying-machine.



I 1.1. FL ANIGAN. MULTIPLE COPYING'MACHINE. APPLICATION FIL ED OCT-24, 1914- l 1%1 792 Patented June 1, 1915.

V 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1 Ja/zp' mm Q A Pi-WV APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24. 1914.

Patented J 11119 1, 1915.

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JOHN J. FLANIGAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AfSSIGNOR' TO-D1TPLICATOR ANUFAC- TUBING COMPA Y, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MULTIPLE CQPYING-MACHINE.

Patented June 1, Iain.

v Application filed October 24,1914. Serial N6. 868,468.

To all whom it may concern 3 ,Be it known that 1, JOHN J FLANIGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple Copying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the art of multiple copying machines of the hectograph type, and has foritsmain object to provide certain improvements upon a machine of that character heretofore designed by me and forming the subject matter of Letters Patent X0. 1,118,119, granted Nov. 24, 1914, for improvements in multiple copying machines.

The improvements forming the subject matter of the present invention are designed to refine and perfect various parts of the machine above referred'to so as to render the same more certain and reliable in operation, easier and more convenient to manipulate, and generally more durable and efficient; the said improvements, more specifically identitied, comprising-an improved hinged gagebar and automatic lock for the same;'a movable attachment for one end of the cord that .actuates' the grooved spool of the platen-roll to accommodate the upward swinging movement of the carriage of the platen-roll without disturbing the proper registration of the cord with the grooves of the spool; a pair of cord guides that serve, when the cord crowds toward and piles up on one end or the other of the spool, to automatically return the cord to its proper working position on the intermediate portion of the spool; an improved adjustable support for the ends of the guiding and supporting rod on which one end of the carriage travels; a novel thrust bearing for locking said rod against longitudinal movement independently of its supports; and an improved latch for the open bearing of one end of the platen-roll spindle designed to facilitate the removal and replacement of said spindle from and in its bearings.

An approved mechanical embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary inner side I elevation of one of the side frame members of the machine, show ng one of the chucks of the delivery spool of the copying apron and the lock mechanism therefor. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the impression device and one end of the machine frame. Fig. 4 is a detail view. of the movable cord attachment device as seen'on the line 44 OfFig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3. Fig; 6,is a detail of the gage-bar lock, as seen on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a detail of the platen-roll spindle latch, as seen on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of the locking-pin for the platen-roll spindle latch. Fig. 9 is an end of the frame, and being wound on delivery and receiving spools 13 and 14:, respectively, journaled in suitable bearings between the side members 6 and 7 and beneath the bed 9. A chain and sprocket driving mechanism for the receiving spool 14 actuated by crank e 15 is clearly indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1; but, as the same forms no part of the present invention, it need not be described in detail.

To prevent slackness in the copying apron, it is essential to provide a lock mechanism for the delivery spool; and such mechanism is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and comprises the following parts: 16 designates one of the V chucks for the deliveryspool, the same being suitably journaled in the side frame member 6. Fast with the chuck 16 is a brake disk 17, surrounding the periphery of which is a split elastic ring 18 .that is secured at one end and at an intermediate point by screws 19 and 20 respectively, to the inner wall of the side frame member 6. The brake ring 18 normally fits the periphery of the brake disk with just sufficient clearness to permit the brake disk to turn freelytherein. To the free end of the brake ring is pivotally connected by a screw stud 21 one end of a short elbow lever 22 that is pivoted at 23 to the frame wall 6. The other end of the I? 24 that extends through a slot 25 in the frame member 6. and projects a slight distance beyond the outer side of the latter, as

clearly shown in Fig. 1. Slidably mounted 'upon guide studs 26 and 27 secured in the side frame member 6 is a slotted bar 28, the

rear end of which abuts squarely against the lateral extension 24 of the elbow lever 22.

The forward end of the bar 28 has a lateral extension 29, in which is mounted an adjusting screw or stud 30. JIhe head of the adjusting screw 30 in turn bears against the working face of a cam 31 that is pivoted to the side frame member 6 at 32 and isformed with a flattened portion 33 at the end of its fat side, and with an actuating arm 34. With the parts in the relative positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the brake is released. To apply the brake, the arm 34 of the cam is swung upwardly until the flattened portion 33 engages the head of the adjusting screw 30. Thisshifts the thrust bar 28 rearwardly a slight distance, and, through the engagement of the rear end of the latter with theextension 24 of the elbow lever 22,

rocks the latter slightly sufliciently to clamp. .or compress the brake ring 18' upon the pe- I v The employment of the adjusting stud 30 is not indispensable,'but obviously the latter facilitates a finer and more perfect adjustment than would be possible without it.

. When the cam arm 34 is thrown to the down position shown in Fig. 1, the natural elasticity of the, brake ring releases the brake disk and returns the parts of the operating mechanism to normal position.

- Mounted to reciprocate over the bed of the machine is an impression device for rolling out both the master sheet and the copy sheets on the gelatin apron. This impression device is substantially identical, with the exception of some detail improvements that will hereinafter be pointed out, with the impression device disclosed and fully described in my former patent, herein'above identified. .Briefly described, this impression device comprises a generally rectangular. frame 35, in and lengthwise of which is mounted on pivots 36 a yoke 37, in and between the arms of which is journaled a platen-roll 38. The platen-roll 38 coiiperates with a yieldable spring-pressed gripi ping-roll 39; the paper sheet, when the platen-roll is raised by tilting up the yoke 37 through manipulation of a handle 40 secured thereto, being entered between the rolls 38 and l 39 untilits forwardedge is squared ag'ainsta gage-bar 41, hereinafter more particularly referred to. When the handle 40 is swung downwardly and forwardly the paper is gripped between the rolls 38 and 39 and carried down onto the copying apron 10, being then rolled out and flattened on the latter by the roll 38 as the impression device is pushed bodily by the handle40 over the bed of the machine. The impression device is guided in its to and fro movements by means of a widenediextension 42 on one end of the frame 35 whichhas a sliding engagement with a guide-rod 43 mounted parallel with the rear side of the machine frame directly opposite the bed. The opposite end of the impression device carries an adjustable screw stud 44, the lower end of which latter over-rides the upper edge of the side frame member 6, and forms a support for that end of the impression/ device when the handle 40 is thrown back, raising the platen-roll 38 off the bed.

Referring again to the gage-bar 41, the novel supporting and locking devices. for which constitute one feature of the present invention, this bar is carried at its ends by a pair of twin curved arms 45 thatare pivoted at their lower ends at 46 to the inner sides of the side frame members 6 and 7, just above the legs 8 at the head end of the machine frame. Tensile springs 47 are so connected to the arms 45 and to the machine frame as to normally maintain the arms and the gage-bar in the elevated position shown in Fig. 1; said springs, however, being substantially neutral when the gagebar and arms are in the lowered position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. When comparatively thin, light and flexible sheets of paper are used in the machine, the springs 47 are ample'to hold the gage-bar in its elevated working position. When, however, comparatively heavy and stiff sheets, such as light cardboard, are used, the gage-bar is likely to yield rearwardly under the push of the end of the sheet that is squared thereagainst, thereby preventing the perfect alinement which the gage-bar is designed to secure. For such emergencies, I have provided a device for automatically locking the gage-bar in working position when it is swung upwardly from idle position, such automatic locking device comin the inner wall of the opposite side frame member 7 (which latter is somewhat longer at the head end of the machine than the side frame member 6). Pivoted at 50 (Fig. 6) to the outer sides of the upper ends of the arms 45 is a bail 51, the ends of the arms of which are formed with integral depending extensions 52 having inclined lower edges that, when the bail 51 is in its normal lowered position with the gage-bar and arms raised, rest upon the pins or lugs 49. In this" position of the parts, the arms 45 are locked against outward and downward swinging movement, it being necessary to tilt the bail 51 upwardly, thereby'swinging the extensions 52 clear of the pins 49, before i the arms and gage-bar can be swung downwardly as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the gage-bar and arms are swung upwardly, the extensions 52 of the bail automatically lock with the pins or lugs 49. In this connection it may be stated that the purpose of making the gage-bar removable -from its normal working position arises out 29 of the necessity of providing clearance at the head end of the machine for the application and removal of the copying apron and itsreceiving and delivery spools.

The platen-roll 38 is positively driven as '25 the impression device is moved bodily over the bed of the machine; the means for this purposecomprising a spirally grooved spool 53 (Figs. 3 and 5) fast on one end of the spindle of the platen-roll and lying outside 9 the end wall of the frame 35, said spool engaging a cord 54 secured at one end to a bracket 55 mounted on one of the rear corners of the machineframe. The other end of" the cord 54 is connected to one end of a 5 helical spring 56, the opposite end of which latter is connected to a hook 57, this hook having mounted thereon a roller 58. The roller 58 in turn engages an upwardly and outwardly curved attachment post or rod 59,

. 9 that, asmost clearly shown in Fig. 4, is

mounted in'the head end of the side frame member 7 ofthe machine, and terminates at its outer end in a stop knob 60. The frame of the impression device or carriage is hinged by its extension 42 on the guide rod 43, so that it can be swung endwise from a position upon andparallel with the bed of the machine upwardly to an outwardlv in clined position, being arrested in the latter position by the engagement of stop lugs 61 (Fig. 4) on the carriage frame extension 42 with the side frame member 7. During such upward swinging movement of the car riage, the grooved spool 53 of course shifts 5 from a horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, and at the same time moves bodily upwardly and outwardly. The carriage is usually thrown back when located at the head end of the machine; and when this occurs the roller 58 rides upwardly and outwardly over the attachment rod 59, thereby not only reducing the tension to which the cord'54 and spring 56 are subjected during this operation, but also obviating the tendency-to pull the cord toward the outer end of the grooved spool 53 which would exist if the head end of the cord were attached at a fixed point. When the carriage is returned to horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3, the roller 58 rides inwardly and downwardly over the curved rod 59, and remains in that position during the working movements of the carriage.

Experience has shown that there isa considerable tendency of the spindle-driving cord 54 to creep in thegrooves of the spool during the reciprocations of the carriage, especially where the latter is operated rapidly, and to pile up more or less at one end or the other of thespool. The shiftable cord attachment last described prevents this when the carriage is swung on its hinge;

and I have devised an additional means for.

checking this tendency during the reciprocating movements of the carriage, such means comprising a pair of rollers 62 and 63 that are rotatably mounted on pins 64 and 65, respectively, projecting from the inner side of the hinge bracket or extension 42. The roller 62 is mounted on one side of the grooved spool 53 opposite the inner end portion of the latter, and the roller 63 is mounted on the other side of the spool opposite the outer end portion of the latter, as shown in Fig. 3. The engagement of the cord 54 with the roller 62 prevents the cord from piling up on the inner end of the spool, and its engagement with the roller 63 prevents its piling up on the outer end of the spool. In other words, the two rollers coiiperate to confine the lateral movements of the cord on the spool to the intermediate portion of the latter, and prevent the cord from riding the ridges between the grooves which quickly wears out and destroys the cord. Of course, the pins alone may be relied on for this purpose, but obviously the rollers produce less wear on the cord.

Referring next to the adjustable means for supporting the ends of the carriage guide-rod 43, which are best shown in Figs. 1 and 9, an L-shaped bracket is secured to the upper portion of each end of the rear side frame member 7, and projects somewhat above and outwardly of the outer side of said side frame member. The ends of the rod 43 extend through vertical slots 66 in said brackets, thereby permitting a limited degree of up and down adjustment of the ends of said rod. The ends of the rod 43 are supported from horizontal extensions of the upper ends of the brackets 55 by vertically adjustable hangers, each of wh1ch comprises a collar 67 embracing the end of the rod and keyed thereto by a set screw 68, an internally threaded boss 69 on the upper side of the collar, and a bolt 70 having a knurled nut or knob 71 resting upon the horizontal extension of the bracket 55. The bolt 70 extends through an aperture in the bracket 55' and is fastened into the boss 69 of the collar 67. A'lock-nut 72 on the-bolt 70 is tightened up against the under side of the bracket 55 to hold the parts securely in adjusted position. When it is required to adjust either end of the rod 43 to secure its perfect parallelism with the bed of the machine, the lock-nut 72 is loosened and the nut or knob 71 is then turned in one direc- 10 tion or the other to raise orlower the'collar 67, and the lock-nut is then tightened when the desired adjustment has been secured. Manifestly, both ends of the rod 43 are capable of independentadjustment, so that v a very true and accurate position of the guide-rod 43 is obtainable.

In the operation of the machine the carriage of the impression device is pushed over! the bed of the machine under some pressure, a part of which is transmitted through the bearingmember42 to the rod 43, imparting more "or less endwise thrust to the latter. In order to avoid transmitting this end thrust to the adjustable hangers by which the. ends of the rod are suspended, I have devised a simple device in the nature of an end thrust bearing,- which is best shown in the detailed view,

Fig. 10. To the outer side of the bracket 55 at the head end of the machine frame ispivoted at 7 3 a latch member 74 that lies snugly against the outer face of the bracket 55 and is formed at'its eeend with a concave lower edge 75 that, in the lowered and operative position of the latchengages an annular groove or channel in the overhanging portion of the rod 43, this groove being indicated at 76. The groove 76 being just wide enough to permit the latch to drop into the same, it will be seen that the outer wall of the groove forms a transverse shoulder that transmits the endwise thrust of the rod 43 in the direction of the tail end of. the machine to the latch 74, and, through the latter, to the bracket and the side frame 7 of the machine on which the bracket is mounted, thereby effectively relieving the hanger brackets of any lateral thrust or strain due to endwise thrust of the rod 43 to which they are keyed. This last described improvement cocperates with the of the platen=r0ll 38from and'to itsbear-- ings in the arms of the pivoted yoke 37, and this improvement will now be described. That end of the platen-roll spindle that is remote from the driving spool 53 is entered endwise into a plainround bearing indicated by dotted lines at 77 in Fig. 3. The other arm of the. yoke 37 has formedat its free end an open bearing 78 I for the spindle of the platen-roll, as best shown in cross section at 38 within said open bearing. Pivoted to the outer side of this arm of the yoke 37 at 79 is an L-shaped guard-plate or latch 80, the depending arm. of which is formed with a transverse notch shown in Fig. 7, wherein the said spindle is .81 that, in the locking position of the latch shown in Fig. 7, lies crosswise of the open bearing 78, and, straddling the spindle 38' securely locks the latter in its bearing. The

guard latch 80 is normally maintained in this working position by a locking pin 82 best shown in detail in Fig. 8. This looking pin 82 is slidably-mountedin a spring cage 83 secured to the inner side of the arm of the yoke 37 on which the open bearing is formed, and it is normally forced by a.

coil spring 84 through a hole 85 in the laterally extending arm of the latclf plate 80,

idle position may be limited by engagement of its upper'edge with a laterally projecti ng lug 87 onthe upper edge of the arm of the yoke 37. The relation of the open bear- 4 ings of the arm and latch-plate is such that when the spindle is inserted in the open bearing of the arm it engages'the upper edge of the open bearing of the latch-plate and earns the latter into locking position, the spring pin 82 automatically snapping into the hole 85 as soon as the latch-plate is thus swung to lockingposition. By manually retracting the pin 82, an outwardmovement of the spindle relatively to its open bearing automatically swings the latchplate to idle position. Y

Theseveral improvements hereinabove' described have all been'developed as a result of an extended practical experience with machines like that of my former application, above identified, and with the purpose in View to eliminate all weak spots and bring the machine in all'points up to as high a degree of mechanical perfection and convenience as possible.

Without limiting myself. to the exact forms and details shown and described,--

I claim: 7

1. In a multiple copying machine, the combination with the frame and bed, and 'acopying apron mounted on the latter, of means for squaring one end of a .paper sheet preliminary to impressing the same on said apron, comprising a gage-bar located opposite and across one end of the bed, and a carsite and across one end of the bed, a carrier for said gage-bar pivoted at its lowerend beneath said bed so as to swing outwardly and downwardly of one end of the latter, and means for normally holding said gagebar and its carrier in elevated position.

\ 3. In a multiple copying machine, the combination with the frame and bed, and a copying apron mounted on the latter, of

means for squaring one end of a paper sheet preliminary to impressing the same on said apron comprisinga gage-bar located opposite and across one end of the bed, a pair of arms at their upper ends carrying said gage-bar and pivoted at their lower ends to the machine frame beneath said bed so as to swing outwardly and downwardly of one end of the latter, and spring means for normally holding said gage-bar and arms in elevated position.

4;. In a multiple copying machine, the

combination with the frame and bed, and a copying apron mounted on the latter, of means for squaring one end of a paper sheet preliminary to impressing the same on said apron comprising a gage bar located opposite and across one end of the bed, a carrier forsaid gate-bar pivoted at its. lower" end beneath said bed so as to swing outwardly and downwardly of one end of the latter, and means for automatically locking said gage-bar in working position when moved thereto from idle position.

5. In a multiple copying. machine, the combination with the frame and bed, and a copying apron mounted on the latter, of means for squaring one end of a paper sheet preliminary to impressing the same on said apron comprising a gage-bar located opposite and across one end of the bed, a pair of arms at their upper ends carrying said gage-bar and pivoted at their lower ends to the machine frame beneath said bed so as to swing outwardly and downwardly of one end of the latter, spring means normally urging said gage-bar. and arms to elevated position, and means for automatically locking said gage-bar and arms in elevated position comprising a pair of stop-lugs on the machine frame, a bail pivoted to and between said arms, and latch members rigid with the arms of said bail operating to automatically move into locking engagement with said stop-lugs when said arms reach their fullyv raised position. I 6. In a multiple copying machine, the

combination'with the frame and'bed,.and a cluding a platen-roll servin to *roll'a sheetv of paper onsaid apron, a riving spool on the spindle of said platen-roll, a cord connected at one end to one end of said frame and wound one or more times around said driving spool, and an attaching means for the other end of said cord to the other end of the frame that is automatically shiftable laterally with the swinging movements of said impression device on its hinge.

7. In a multiple copying machine, the combination with the frame and bed, and a copying apron mounted on the latter, of an impression device hinged at one end to said frame and slidable over said bed, and including a platen-roll serving to roll a sheet of paper on said apron, a driving spool on the spindle of said platen-roll, a cord connected at one end to one end of said frame and wound one or more times around said driving spool, and an upwardly and outwardly curved attachment rod at the other end of said frame, to which the other end of said cord is connected with capacity for lateral shifting movement thereon.

8. In a multiple copying machine, the combination with the frame and bed, and a copying apron mounted on thelatter, of an impression device slidable over said bed, and including a platen-roll serving to roll a sheet of paper on said apron, a driving spool on the spindle of said platen roll, a cord connected at its ends to the opposite ends of said frame and wound one 'or more times around said'driving spool, and a stop device located alongside said spool and serving through engagement with said cord to prevent undue creeping of the latter to-' ward on end of the spool.

9. In a multiple copying machine, the

combination with the frame and bed, and a i copying apron mounted on the latter, of an impression device slidable over said bed and including a platen-roll serving'to roll combination with the frame and bed, and a copying apron mounted on the latter, of an impression. device adapted to reciprocate over said copying apron and impress a sheet of paper thereon, a guide-rod located opposite and parallel with one side' of the frame and having relative sliding engagement with one end of said impression device, and

15" sliding engagement with one en means for'adiustably supporting the ends of said guide-rod comprising brackets secured to the ends of said frame, andextensible' and contractible hangers suspended from said'brackets and embracing the ends of saidguide-rod.

11. In a multiple copying machine, the combination with the frame and bed, and a copying apron mounted on the latter, of an lmpression device adapted to reciprocate over said copying apron and impress a sheet of paper thereon, a transversely shouldered guide-rod located opposite and parallel with one side of the frame and havin relative of said lmpression device, brackets secured to the ends of saidframe having apertures through which the ends of said guide-rod extend; hangers suspended from said brackets and 2'o embracing the ends of said guide-rod, and

a removable member disposed between one of said brackets and the transverse shoulder of the guide-rod and serving to transmit end thrust on the latter to said bracket and thereby relieve said hangers of lateral strain.

12. In a multiple copying machine, the combmation with the frame and-bed,'and a copyiiigapron mounted on the latter, of 'an impression device adapted to reciprocate over said copying apron and impress a sheet of paper thereon, a transversely grooved.

' guide-rod located opposite and parallel with one'side of the frame and havin' relative Y engagement with one en of said i impression device, brackets secured to the ends of said frame having apertures through which-the ends of said guide-rod extend,

hangers suspended from said brackets and embracing the ends of saidguide-rod, and

a latch member pivoted to a side of one of said brackets and formed with a concave of said yoke, and a closure for saidopen.

bearing comprising a guard-plate pivoted on the arm of said yoke in which said open bearing is formed and provided with a transverse notch adapted to embrace the platen-roll spindle crosswise of said ,open bearing when said guard-plate is in operative position, and a spring-actuated locking pin mounted on said yoke'and engaging an aperture in said guard-plate to lock the latter in. such operatlve position.

v I JOHN J. FLANIGAN. Witnesses:

SAMUEL N. loxn, A.- G. LATIMZER. 

